Making money with donor newsletters

Making Money with Donor Newsletters Foreword by Roger Graver Editor, The Agitator The How-To Guide to Extraordinary Results Making Money with Donor Newsletters The How-To Guide To Extraordinary Results OfRelated Interest How to Write Fundaising Materials that Raise More Money By Tom Ahern, 187 pp., $24,95 HOW TO / WRITE L FUNDRAISiNC MATERIALS That Raise More Money Whenever we're called upon to draft a solicitation letter or write copy for the website or, heaven forbid, pen long stretches of a proposal or case statement, we sit there and if we're lucky crank out serviceable prose Few would call it sparkling Even fewer are moved to write a check in response It won't be this way any longer for those who invest a few hours in How to Write Fundraising Materials that Raise More Money Communi cating with donors is the bedrock of all fundraising And no book addresses this topic with such virtuosity Seeing Through a Donor's Eyes By Tom Ahern, 167 pp., $24.95 Successful donor newsletters, websites, annual reports, donor acquisi tion programs, email, direct mail, and, yes, capital campaigns too, all have one thing in common: behind each stands a well-reasoned, emo tionally satisfying case for support Regularly reviewing your case is due diligence in a well-managed fundraising office And it doesn't have to be a laborious project: answer a few questions and you're done Of course, if your office is launching a big-bucks campaign, the stepby-step process revealed in this book guarantees you'll tell a persuasive, sharply focused story, even when you have a hundred moving parts Seeing through a Donor's Eyes Boif 10 Make > Pcmstivc CASE irT; r fM Kvenytfeiag from apKi AHNUAl 5BtV{ ;si ta yoar , ■ ^ , imgc s>Unn» civme (oyov MMDCAPiTAl CAMfAiCN , The Fundraiser's Guide to Irresistible Communications THE i FUNDRAISER'S I iGUIDE! • to Irresistible • t Communications t * » ^((Real-World)) Field-Tested Strategies for Raising More^0|£y By Jeff Brooks, 143 pp., $24.95 Here it is: an easy-to-read and spritely book that reveals what really works in fundraising Not academic theory or wishful thinking, but ways of communicating that are proven to motivate donors to give generously, wholeheartedly, and repeatedly Drawing from decades of in-the-trenches experience, Jeff Brooks, one of America's top fundraising writers, takes you on a step-by-step tour of the unique strategies, writing style, and design techniques of irresistible fundraising messages www.emersonandchurch.com Making Money with Tom Ahern Donor Newsletters The How-To Guide To Extraordinary Results Foreword by Roger Graver 40., Emerson & Church PUBLISHERS www.emersonandchurch.com Copyright 2013, by Tom Ahern All rights reserved No portion of this book may be reproduced or used in any form, or by any means, without prior written permission from the publisher Exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews First printed in October 2013 10 Printed in the United States of America This text is printed on acid-free paper Copies of this book are available from the publisher at discount when purchased in quantity for boards of directors or staff Emerson & Church, Publishers 15 Brook Street, Medfield, MA 02052 Tel 508-359-0019 - Fax 508-359-2703 www.emersonandchurch.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Ahern, Tom Making money with donor newsletters : the how-to guide to extraordinary results / Tom Ahern pages cm ISBN 978-1-889102-50-4 (pbk.: alk paper) Direct-mail fund raising Newsletters—Design Nonprofit organizations— Finance I Title HV41.2.A435 2013 658.15'224 dc23 2013030709 For Simone, who kissed me to life Contents Foreword Pep Talk and Promise PART I The Breakthrough The Secret to Success Delivering Joy:The True Purpose of a Donor Newsletter A Word on Donor (Dis)loyalty Common Obstacles Where the Real Money is (Hint: Not in Acquisition) Better Customer Service Equals Increased Donor Loyalty The Domain Formula The "Gillette Miracle": How a Hospital Foundation Increased Giving to its Newsletter by 1,000% Which Are You Doing: Corporate Communications or Donor Communications? PART II How Newsletters Fit In 10 Extraordinary Experiences 11 Following in the Footsteps of Your Message 12 The Research and the Reality 13 You Are an Intrusion 14 E-newsletters: What Are They Good For? 15 Email Subject Lines PART III Techniques 16 These Nine "Fatal Flaws" Kill Response 17 Fatal Flaw #1: Failing the"You"Test 18 Fatal Flaw #2: Lack of Emotional Triggers 19 An Irresistible Emotional Trigger: Flattery Even if You're Faking It.(PS:You Won't Need to.) 20 Fatal Flaw #9: Bad Headlines 21 A Model Headline 22 Howto Write Great Headlines 23 What is News? 24 Making News Out of Thin Air 25 "Just Add Water" Article Ideas 26 What a Front Page is For 11 The"Inverted Pyramid"(i.e., Put the Important Stuff First) 28 Most People Skim Few Read Deep 29 Pull Quotes Bring Your Buried Treasures to Light 30 31 32 33 The AP Formula for Captions Elements of a Skimmable Page WhatWheildon Discovered (and Gutenberg Didn't) Long Articles? Don't Bother 34 Lower the Grade Level of Your Writing 35 Offers Wanted 36 Donors are "Staggeringly IgnoranfThat's a Good Thing By the Way 37 Anecdotes vs Stats: Which Raises More Money? 38 The Human Brain Craves Anecdotes 39 Don't Hog the Credit 40 What Donors Really Care About 41 Age Matters 42 How Often Should We Mail? 43 An Easy Alternative:The Newsy-Letter 44 The H/ghA/oon Checklist Appendix: A Successful Donor Newsletter Overhaul Gratitude About the Author Foreword Too many fundraisers are spending too much time in search ofthe next and greatest new thing Like hunting dogs ranging back and forth in pursuit of a fresh scent, they endlessly pursue some magic bullet that never seems to hit the fundraising mark Infatuation with social media—Facebook,Twitter,Instagram,you name it—is the latest manifestation ofthis elusive quest for the quick and easy pot offundraising gold at the end ofthe high tech rainbow Search no more.The answer,'the magic buUet,'is in fact staring us in the face Making Money with Donor Newsletters rediscovers and reveals how, what, and why a 3,000 year-old technology—words and pictures on paper—when properly employed can unlock a treasure trove ofcon tributions and donor loyalty most nonprofits only dream of Its time to rediscover the lowly donor newsletter This low-tech ugly duckling hiding in plain sight amidst the rhinestone sparkle of over-hyped high tech tools can easily be transformed into a beauti ful swan able to revolutionize your fundraising In brief, a properly prepared newsletter will add heaps to your bottom line bring leaps of joy to your donors and boost your organization's donor retention to new heights This book is long overdue Donor acquisition costs are at an all-time high Donor retention rates are at an all-time low Why? Because a donor's giving behavior depends on the attitude of that donor towards your charity Whether that attitude is positive or negative is determined by the actions your organization itself takes There's no action a fundraiser can take that is more essential or profitable than making certain the donor knows how important and wonderful she or he is And there's no communications vehicle as powerfully suited for this task than the simple,well-written four-page paper newsletter Not digital Not slick Not focused on the ego ofthe organization It's not about you It's all about the donor Perhaps you're wondering,"Is this book for me?" I promise, with complete confidence,that the practical, step-by-step approach taken by Tom Ahern will boost your communications skills—and results— quickly and dramatically Is there at least one offer? Offers give your readers things to respond to and give you an easy way to evaluate whether anyone's listening.(Tip:Put a coupon box around every offer Coupon boxes reliably elevate readership 10% or more.) Are your photos intimate enough? The bigger the face, the better; basically.(Tip: Siegfried Vogele in his seminal research discovered that big eyes are "reader magnets.") Are you still trying to sell statistics? The right anecdote is a thousand times more powerful than any statistic: atomic bomb vs firecracker powerful.(Tip: Collect stories, not numbers.) Did you accurately visualize your target reader? Do you know whom you're writing to? There's good evidence that the "average donor" in the U.S is 65 years of age or older.(Tip: Make references that are age-appropriate What did they grow up with?) The High Noon Checklist APPENDIX A Successful Donor Newsletter Overhaul Since early 2010, MQI — a Dublin-based charity helping Ireland's homeless and hungry for nearly halfa century—has been relentiess in its quest to create newsletters that are increasingly donor-driven From the you-focused headlines to the readable design, personal tone,and donor gratitude buffet offered on each ofits four pages,the now-beloved donor newsletter is published under the genius of Mer chants Quay Ireland's American-born Head of Fundraising, Denisa Casement Three times yearly Casement and her fundraising manager,Nick lones, give US-based donor communications specialist Lisa Sargent and her design cohort Sandie Collette of S Collette Design free rein to apply every donor-delighting tactic in the book And donors have definitely responded: • Between Summer and Fall of 2010, after the first newsletter overhaul, response rates nearly doubled • Between Summer 2010 and Fall 2012, and more fine-tuning, response rates are more than triple • Newsletter revenues have climbed steadily too: on average, compared to 2010, per-issue revenues have grown by more than 250% And now Lisa Sargent, in her own words,from an article thatfirst appeared on Sofii.org: 156 Techniques Let's begin with results Shortly after my design colleague Sandie and I finished an overhaul of Merchants Quay Ireland's donor newsletter, I received an e-mail from MQI's Head of Fundraising that read: "My phone has been ringing all morning with people telling me how much they like the newsletter and giving me money It just hit doormats yesterday." Four weeks later, the donations from that newsletter stand at €16,000 (roughly US$21,000) Even better, those revenues will soon double - the result of a matching gift on all Christmas donations up to €50,000 (a challenge you can bet we featured prominently in the newsletter) ROI for this newsletter, after creative, printing and mailing costs is 3:1 Thirteen Copywriting and Design Strategies That Helped Make This Donor Newsletter Overhaul a Success Choose Your Colors One of the first things to consider is the color scheme You'll save on costs with two-color printing, but if you can manage four-color, it's a much nicer look (The after' version of MQI's newsletter is four-color.) In considering colors for sidebars, masthead, etc., strive for har monious colors that are also consistent with the 'feel' you want to establish In the samples, you'll see that MQI's chief color is purple and, while this dictated the main accent color, Sandie chose a dif ferent complementary color to warm things up - in this case, gold 2, Consider the Masthead Here is where you see a big difference between the before and after versions The already-established newsletter name,"Quay Times," was very difficult to read in the before version So Sandie strived to give the name a more dominant presence - and we knew she'd been successful when donors began referring to the newsletter by name A Successful Donor Newsletter Overhaul 157 In fact, just by glancing at the thumbnail images at left, you can clearly see a difference in the before and after mastheads,and the ease with which the title of the newsletter is legible Add a Table of Contents One of your jobs, in any multi-page communication, is guiding readers to the next page and the next A table of contents helps accomplish that.In this case,it's straight up at the top in the masthead, which saves space and lets people easily see what's inside without making a big deal out of it It also gives scanners and skimmers a bite-sized summary Select Proper Font and Type Size There is an emerging trend in print newsletters to go with a sanserif font But we still adhere to the old rules of readability: serif font for print, and sanserif- or sans serif — online This is especially true if your donors are of the 45-70 age group They're already reaching for their cheater specs, so don't go all funky on them You can use sanserif sparingly in print, yes — and we But for body copy, we stick with serif; the one we use in the 'after' version is among the most readable As to type size, Sandie used 11 pt on 13, which means an 11 point type size with 13 point leading (the space between the lines) Sidenote: beware reversed-out text This is fine to use(again spar ingly) when there's enough contrast and not a lot ofcopy,as you'll see on the cover page of the 'after' version; reversed-out text is notori ously tough to read in long stretches For a fabulous primer on this, see Colin Wheildon's Type & Layout Use Photos Always In smaller and mid-sized nonprofits, it can sometimes be a chal lenge to get good quality, high-resolution photos But MQl faces a different problem: in working with those who are homeless and have addiction problems, many of the women and men they help wish to remain anonymous For this reason there are not many full face photos, which of course are best of all, because the eyes engage Even so, we opt to give readers even a sideways glimpse of the real people they are helping, as opposed to a stock photo ofcomplete strangers; it's much more authentic that way 158 Techniques Guide the Reader As we noted in the Table of Contents section above, one ofthe main jobs ofany multi-page communication is to guide the reader through from page to page But you also have to guide the reader through each article - and at the same time write for skimmers and scanners, who will never read your newsletter in its entirety This means: • Headlines, instead of being cute, tell part of the story • Deck - the intro beneath the headline - tells a little more of the story • Body copy, iflong will use subheads, and tells the full story • Jump Heads,appear where an article is continued to another page, and usually include a piece of the headline to orient the reader Note in the 'after' version how Sandie uses design to clearly dif ferentiate between the head, deck and body copy And if there are pull-quotes, they stand out too Thank the Reader and Show Accomplishments Wherever possible, without getting too saccharine, we say thank you Our goal here is to show the reader, through stories, testimonials, profiles and more,all the amazing things their donations are making possible this, after all, is the reason you're writing One of the ways we accomplish this is by using a thank-you message as a built-in design element: in the headers of both inside spread and page 4(back cover) Break Up the Copy With any newsletter, we plan for a mix of full-length articles and shorter snippets of information - bulleted points, pull-quotes, call-out boxes with bits and pieces ofnews,shaded areas This, again, helps skimmers and scanners get what they need,and also adds visual interest.(You'll notice a big difference here between before and after versions.) A Successful Donor Newsletter Overhaul 159 Don't Be Afraid of Numbers You'll notice a pie chart on page 2- we always include some form of graphic that shows how a donor's money is being wisely used And don't be afraid to sprinkle numbers in elsewhere - in the form ofsta tistics and percentages, for example - just be sure you explain them clearly, and always bring it 'round to the donor's role in all of it 10 Include Inside Information It's a hard and fast rule not to bury your readers in jargon But I don't think you need to'dumb everything down,'either - and in fact, there are certain cases where including jargon or technical terms can make the reader feel like an insider In addition to copywriting for the 'after' version, I also did some of the copywriting and all of the copyediting to MQI's 'before' version (which is the summer issue oftheir newsletter) Look at page of that issue, "A Day in the Life of a Merchants Quay Nurse." In paragraph three Nurse Steven Doyle talks about chronic leg ulcerations When editing his wonderful article,I simply defined the term for the reader and shared why it was a problem,then double-checked with him to be sure it was accurate This is one way to handle tech nical terms 11 Feature Offers and Deadlines On page of the 'after' version, you'll see the challenge grant prom inently featured in a call-out box, along with the 31 December deadline This creates urgency and excitement and also primes the reader for opening the direct mail piece when it arrives (it's rudi mentary, true, but technically still multi-channel fundraising!) 12 Call Attention to Your Website On the inside spread (pages and 3) of the 'after' version you'll see two areas where we reference MQI's website - this in addition to the URL in the footer On page 3, the call-out is part of the photo caption On page it's in the first bullet point, referencing MQI's Annual Review 160 Appendix 13 Strike a Balance Nonprofits need to tread carefully when it comes to the overall appear ance oftheir donor communications: not too homespun (you're pro fessionals, after all) but not too glitzy either Sandie sums it up,saying "You don't want the piece to look too fancy, because then a donor is thinking,'They must've paid someone big bucks to this.' And that leads them to think you're not making wise use of their donations My philosophy is not to overdo it." A Successful Donor Newsletter Overhaul 161 (j^uos/'TJ/v&s From the Desk of foin (•eie^!ifg;in Why 'Housing First' Holds Promise for Homeless; the Vital Role MQl Will Play Vicrchants Qtiay Irciuiid has iHcn asked to play a critical role in llic Hoiik-Icss Agciirv'stevonri^mraliOH of homeless ss-i v ios-,s in the Dublin area The Ascncy - tsaniifrviiip IkOv of the IISL the lour Dublin Local Auihorltics and the Voluntary Hoisina ss-clor - was esutblisbed iincier lite Departttteni s>f the Eitviiunmcni to eliminate iioiiiclessncss and tlic iK-cu[ at this work,and we The btfiielii of hoitsitig fiisi is it imnimlM-s the ciisruptKin for the person who i-s grateful for ycHir sgenerosity lie was sold Out of school at 14 troubles with diinking ami smoking hash the vinlenec al home S[fl||K^' , indqxmdent lisinp A seo'iid scav the icconllgmatiim will liclp is with exicwk-d das su|>(Ki!i wrsices One «f the most significant service pros ision gaps uicntifieil, and cenind to the asionfiguratiim is the need lo have one o[x,'ii m ccss supiKiti service thai will teniain ojvii into the crening liinc Cuirenily all homeless SBl B|H towuttl udrtrg-lree life Mtirie iuts leamcti 10 face both gfxid ami bud She's forihnghi about it all Hie beloved horse she rotlc every- night n% a iccriiigcr Iter tierasiaiion when are as ever, so very homcicss and ilso IcsseiLs the duration of lire homeles.s epismle All ot the locareh and iiilcrnationul 0iskiKC iiulkaies that the loiigs't a pcisoti ivmains homeless lite nioie difTtcuU it is «o Teiniccraie into permanent housing and ! she's ittM uhr.'w; luughing at herself, ut finding humour |||||H in ull she's been through Because mi her journey remain a vital part hi>used in entergen;y aceomninJalion - cither a hostel or a hcd and hre-akfast - ■■ this preiiy mom with the spiirklitig blue eyes And :Mio need us You 6009110900 thsm moved to iiaiisitioii.il housine ami eveiiiiully on to pctmanenl hinisine ■v- Nmv in her ?0s, she scciits to have lived a Itieiimc In and out 2009 Where ^ lypiciif li-r heroin useix - making it doubly diiiieiilt lo slop using was spent To address Utis issue the Komdevs.Agency have asked Mercbant-s Quay in-lund (MQH "td IVkus Irehmd(M)lotlcvehip a.ioim estcndtai day support ssTMce Ill tiiis end Mf,)I and F1 nrc working together to rtcvdop ,m opcraiional while iicr mother eared for her ^H||H||||||H|||||||mHmH|[||2g|^^^^HB diildra, Ma™ had iaoea will, mulli|>k drag - the money siipjxin scrvit-es m the greater Dublin area dose nl jppriwim.alcly 5.(KI p.m w ere in someone else's house N?ing looked aller She hil rock-bottnnt betbre rcaJising her true souree til stirngih; her children By then her mom plan toi the new seiviec which will Iv bit.sed in one of MQI's or Fl's city centre premise.s and will Iw siaifed joinily by personnel from both agencies (.iiir liin is to ci'inms'iare a pilot programme oliering art extended day sciwiec fioin ist July 2010 he challenge in develnping this critical service is (hat (here are no new foiidi for homeless set-vices Homeless and Drags Services The Newsietur ot Mereftarvts Quay Ireland Please know we a result of the cuiieiii economic diinaic so any Site credits Metehani's Quay sitJf for helping her sUiy in the programme -They sal up with me 'til one siipporici, and I'd K- lost wiilunii her cnticif up homeless tlien ind in ihe hostels I uscvl to hitvc photograph of me ktd.« on the slicli and wanted t(> stop liikiiig lihe (iriigs! but I eoutdn'i No pride, no oriwoo'cioek in the moniing ami if you were going ilirough sttmciliing they'd ask ilicy wtm'l let you hide In any corner With other place.s never ically got thai." ilignily •• everylhing just goes out the windt.iw So I exp:msroii must N.- funded trorn existing rossura-s As such, we look forward 10 dceidcd I needed to gel help." working with i'ociis Ifd.md in otfermp the new r.viendod hours d.iy service And ii\ very Itatd on the moiliurs and I can only imiiginc what it's like mi the kid.s." wics out ul jHitleiice - the kkls woiiid always have a Ininie btii Marie was on ihv; streets 'She was a gretit Marie reniemlKTS when she'd turned the corner, It w.-is .she itvalls "when my kills came up to see me Like many of Irciand's nearly 15,(«I0 heroin l just started lo ivaiisc thai I want to Ik there lor my as ever, wc thank sou for your geiieiuiis suppoil of Meichiinis Quay liclsind Iiclping Us (Hxtvidc qaalily and acce.ssible services lor all honiele.ss people It von avers livoking to break the uddieiiwi cycle Marie kids, liom that momeiii on i lealiy swrtctl putting the have.my vjutstionv aNmi the pi-ogram, please c.tli us on 01 524DHiO fiK-ed an uj^till battle -She'd dcv'idcd ti.i seek work in." ire.iirnciil Ihii was still surroimiled by drug users it lite hostel including a fncnd who smoked heroin TihIio Matie is drue-free, in recovery lioiising tind attending our aftercare session.s She couldn't be more cotistanlly '"I useti to sleep with a T shirt ovtrr nie deiighted summing il up with cusinnwry wit: "I u.sed face so s nut to smell it ' 10 nug High Park when left and I'd bs' havin" a chut Warm regards 'Housing first'marks OB ' iai(^riant mosc from Ue rnny Geoghegan Even »l High Park, our ix-sidenlial treatmenl airrcnt s^uatinu CEO Meichanis Quay lrclai«l w-ilh the staff and I'd say 'l want to eonic hack." And programme, it wasn't easy wpeciully for a they'd say, Wc miss you btil wx don't mis-s you wmnian or every ten linig useix m ireaunciit ji!>i thai much!" I'd he lost without the support front three are lemale Marie expi.uns thai ii'.s umghei ti>r Merehanls Quay I'm gratetul Us.it I got the chance to HofTt^ss and Drugs Serviees Head Office: 01 S24 0160 wotiH-ii "With ehiidfcn espv-cially f don't think I go In there Me Kids Ihey arc beneniiing so much Merchants Ouay Ireland 10 Newmarket Fundralsing: 01 S24011S Volunteering: Oi 524 0128 could go ilin.mgh ireaintem kuowma lhai my kids from il." • For Marie, and for so many others, you are making a real difference.Thank you so much Homeless and Drugs Services A Day in the Life of a Merchants My name is Steven Ikiyle, and J jomed Quay Nurse The Healing Hands My name is Steven Dnyle and I jotnetl kicrchani's Quay ;ss a full time Ntinc hack in April 2(KI9.1 tvoik with Nurse Hriii {.I'Sulllvan - whose of Sister Brid story you'ii ilso llnd itt this new-sleiier and tltc test tif ourmedie.il team at MQl's Ptim.iry Heaitlicare linir Wc provide primary healthcare to people who Sister Brid O'SiilHvaii reflects on her lile and are hcmicicss as well as men and w-omen who havx her work as a nurse at liAcrchant's Quay, helping the homeless and those struggling witt> addiction protolems in Dublin prt^lenis with alcr>lioi or thug use As yon can imagine, being homeless or having n diue prohlem i.s a challenge in itvrif But a host t>f Fniiii the sturt, SLter Briii Jias Irecii urtite as a medti-ai issues are related In tidiJiction iiid sleeping rough, and u.s a Niii-se, sec many t>f these nu!\e ill Merchant's Quay "My firsi day I !khI lunch with a nurse wIk) worked there After lundi there The Mcix-haiii's Quay phiiiisopliy of resjKciing was an ovcrAwc .Somrtx>dy had coliapsctt .So we elienis - at w-hatescr stage iIks "re at - is eracial site just grabbed lir bug amJ went t>ver ind did CTK." Site found her calling at Jiisi i to ilie l-ranciscan feels a.s are services olTeretJ through ntredle exclianae :ind Open Access (hcilities like medical MisNioiiaries vif the Divine Molheiliood These fi rst care and counselling Sunday dinners, and practical ycutx a.s help finding a home But the need far ouipHCes presenl enpueiiy nun slut)H.-(l her future, and Sr Brid trained a.s both a iiuise and midwife notes Sister Brid and not Just in Dublin "We're rcferrin.e people all Ihe lime to detox ind iltug fchabilitaiion adding their names In llie waiting lists We need far mote tietox scistecs in In 1972 she set off in Africa Spvrcialising m leprosy .Sr Hriil worktxi as n nurse w ith BBjySCfi9 four nmis frmn licr Order in BgHM rhc sw-ampy urea nc.ir l.nkc Noithcro MIHIM _||||||||||||||^^_ 7.ambiu Tiicie she helired this eounlrs We're caught in Irel.md." Merchtml'i; Quay prnvidiis two Resnlenlial Dnig 'I'lratrndm faeiiiitex in litland' Si Francis Farm in Co fairlosv and High Park in ITrumcondr.i Disblin Both hnve waking lists ufvgcade ihe local health ceniie to a lK>v|vit;il wnh X-ray sen-ice the comimmity'v fn-st .She recalls ibose years fondly, saying, "Afnca was the cherry- on ihe icing tor the life I those." AlVit-a wtis also where Sr Bi-iti horKxl nursing skills lhat - combined with her ready stnilc and earing hear! would prove invaluabie to Merehont's Quay licland and she joined the medical sialT in 2004 at our busy Dublin ba.sed ouiA-ach service Tirdav Sister Brid sees ovtr 30W people who turn In Merehanl'.s Qitaj daily She's learned that their life doties of drug use poverty, prison, loss and abuse aren't easily told "Some stories are just so sad atki scry painful to lisicn to so yon c-jn imagine what it's like for the ciiems iliemsclses." MQl donor newsletter BEFORE 162 Appendix [ can htitiesHy say there is never u dull moment I might clean a wound or tieal a minoi injury, then scx; someone wiih an itciue or chronic iiliH;s.s Righl now- a big concern is treating chrome leg iik-ci-aiion.s it's like a wound that won't heal, which is I'rustraling fr>r us - and exhausiing for ur clients We also tc.st for blrxHl-bi-niftie viruses like tlepaliiis C Tiie issues are seiisiiive but we always speak npeiily with llic men and women we liclp - whether we're i.ilking tboul safer innvling praciicea or the eourtection between healing and a Itcailhier diel By uiidersiandirig ihc nature tif their wtmmJ.s iml other illnesses, they can become an aciive part of — tiie liealiiig process How you can make a Euro stretch a wtiole lot furtlier! By setting up a standing order, you help us to plan more efficiently and effectively N so we can help more people if you pay income tax tiirough the PAYS system your monthly donation can GROW 25% • 69% when we claim tax back from the government Monthly € donated €26 (€312 yearly) €31(€372 yearly) €70 (€340 yearfy) €35 (€420 yearty) €42 (€504 yearly) €70 (€840 yearty) To set up a standing order go to www.mqi.ie and download the form Or ring us on Ot 524 0160 and we irill post a form to you ^ "The iaauas are sensitive, twt we atways speak (qwnly i«ith the men end women ^ What's on at MQI? page Brendan Magee Graduates, page Merchants Quay Scholarship Fund, page Message from How to Double Tony Geoghegan, page ; Your Donation, page Quay Times m?^-m Homeless and Drugs Services The Newsletter for Supporters of Merchants Quay Ireland|Autumn 2010 scene ya know, experimented in That Was When I Was Young trying heroin." and Innocent " Heroin is one of the most addictive drugs available In the Liam's story is one every parent fears And with 15,000 people across Ireland who are caught in heroin's grip, it's all too real Read how it's turning out, thanks to you: "That was when I was young and heroin every day "One day I woke up I was vomiting, shivering, bleeding It had a hold on me." He was injecting by 19, to a point where he "had no veins left." He innocent," Liam begins."We used to robbed and was homeless for "three 9° down to Seapoint, Dun Laoghaire or four years, in and out of hostels '■^S^flPPSeilwl baths I used to love swimming " Being on the street definitely increased my drug use." every parent gflfe'ajMS '£"1 iuT T*' span of 180 days, Liam was smoking With nowhere to turn, he came to Sstl fsars "I grew up too fast Hit me teens, like The ecstasy and smoking hash and I just tried to be part of the Merchants Quay for meals "I used to go into the drop in-at 7.30 when they opened for breakfast, just aroimd the corner from the needle exchange." Then a staff member helped Liam get on our Stabilisation Programme (see story below) He'd sought help before, but the continued on page » MQFs Stabilisation Programme: Behind the Scenes with David and Maeve A chat with Team Leader Maeve O'Callaghan and Assistant Supervisor David Sherry, of Merchants Quay's Stabilisation Programme MQI: Can you tell us about the in from another part of the Stabilisation Programme? country So before they can move Maeve: People are chaotic lives, we have to try and sometimes when they approach us Some of them can be stabilise their drug habits, their living habits, their life skills homeless and looking for a space That's the whole point of in any other direction in their to coimect in with, some can be stabilisation It keeps them on in apartments and are sorted in the level - connected with us, that direction but not sorted in connected with doctors, their addiction levels Some come continued on page » Merchants Quay uses your donations wisely See lioue, page www.mqi.ie MQI donor newsletter AFTER:"My phone's been ringing all morning with people giving me money." A Successful Donor Newsletter Overhaul 163 What's On How Will You Be Remembered? Leaving a gift in your twil to at MQI? jMr ^ 'S Merchants Quay Ireland is a once in a lifetime chance to see that the homeless and those who struggle to overcome addiction have somewhere to turn for help, even after you're gone And for your kindness, we'll always remember you To learn how easy it is to leave a legacy gift to Merchants Quay, ring Read All About It: • Just Released: 2009 Annual Review reveals a 'rising tide of desperation'for people who are homeless; to read the review go to wvvw.mqi.ie • MQI on Facebook:Listen to client interviews and get the latest media updates on Denisa on 01 524 0115 MQI's Stabilisation would have missed out on things Programme in secondary school level The (continued from front page) emphasis is always on personal connected with any other teams to projects, visits to art galleries, make sure they are looked after education programmes The local development There are loads of employment services know we are MQI; What life skills are they here now Stabilisation is a process learning? of listening and trust and Merchants Quay's Facebook Page ■ Drug-Free Pilot Programme: New day programme offers ongoing structure, education and counselling for clients who recently completed drug rehab • Scholarship Fund to help keep education within reach for clients, page • New Aftercare House in Leixlip; Grows capacity by 200%; provides six more places for confidence building ■ Addiction Counselling David: WeU what Maeve said, the word 'structure.' The skill learned MQI: Are there any people that first is to get up and get really stand out in terms of somewhere: have a reason to get change from when they came through the door? up in the morning Every month aftercare housing and support in a drug-free environment Services Contracted by Irish Prison System: Merchants Quay to reach 1,000-t counselling hours per month in new four-year programme there is a different programme Life skills would be tied in with Maeve: Jessica(not her real name) relapse prevention and say very was here nearly two,two and half basic maths Some say they got years She refused to take a chance How Your involved in drugs young, and they and go outside and show what she Donations Are was made of It was a major thing for me that Jessica would be able Wisely Used: to share the skills she had with other people Now she has moved on to work experience and she Fundiaising 4% Admin 9% does not want to come back She's using the skills that she has learned, which is brilliant David: She even sounds different on the phone, doesn't she? It's Maeve O'Callaghan, helping a client in the Stabilisation Programme fabulous When you see it you say 'Wow People can change.' Thank fou for caring www.mqi.ie 164 Appendix A life Becausi; of Brendan Magee Graduates Again! You may remeniber Brendan Magee from our October 2009 Newsletter He overcame his heroin addiction by availing himself of all MQI offers -'graduating' from a cup of tea and needle exchange to residential rehabilitation and recovery He got a place in college, completed a Certificate in Drugs Counselling and took up work guiding others on their way to a drug-free life Now he's graduated again, officially: he's received his Diploma in Drugs Counselling Theory and Intervention Skills Building on this he has now taken on a full time degree course in Former MQI client Brendan Magee (left) is all smiles after receiving his diploma Social Science with University College Dublin He win graduate yet again in 2012 Well done, Brendan! (To read Brendan's full story, visit'News and Events' on our website at www.tnqi.ie, then stroll down for the October 2009 Newsletter,"From Heroin Addiction to Academic Honors." Or call us, we'll post you a copy.) Introducing the Merchants Quay Scholarship Fund ^ When government cuts meant less money for school and job training, MQI clients and staff were left without needed funds to continue their education See how, with your help, a new scholarship fund is bridging the gap Thenewly estabhshed courses must be aimed at job training is becoming harder to ? Merchants Quay buUding on-the-job skills to find We don't want anyone who Scholarship Fund will better help the homeless and has worked hard at getting their * those with addiction problems life on track to be stalled by a lack a provide help with tuition fees so clients can continue their education, taking FETAC- of funding." "With all the government is For more information or to funding cuts," saidDenisa i accredited courses geared Casement, Merchants Quay donate to the Merchants Quay toward employment For staff Ireland's Head of Fundraising, Scholarship Fund,ring us on ' ;| and volimteers, accredited "money,for further education and 01524 0160 ■; : www.mqi.ie A Successful Donor Newsletter Overhaul 165 A Message From Tony Geoghegan SI exchange,primaryhealth New Extended Day Service Helps Those With Nowhere to Go 'After Hours' ■ *wrote you in our spring newsletter that the Homeless isBsAgency had identified a need by Focus and MQI The service is: ' care and assistance in ■ Free and available to for homeless services operating in anyone regardless of the greater Dublin area during the age, gender or evening time, in particular after 5pm In the works was a joint effort I accessing hostel Together with Focus k nationality Ireland, and through ^ I your kind donations, j Merchants Quay are ■ Reaches those who I pleased to be reaching between Merchants Quay Ireland need help most and Focus Ireland to launch a including rough three-month pilot programme that sleepers, those without 24 hom families who, before EDS, had would, for people experiencing hostel accommodation, and nowhere to go in the evenings homelessness, bring Extended Day individuals and families in crisis Tony Geoghegan Services to Dublin city centre ■ Offers a safe place off the Thanks in large part to your streets in the evenings to support of Merchants Quay, that programme is now reality The Extended Hours Day Service (EDS) is open from 4.00pm to 8.30pm weekdays and based in Focus Ireland's premises on Eustace Street and jointly staffed adults with and without Thanks for helping make it all possible, addiction issues, and people from new communities • Provides emergency advice, hot food, toilet facilities, needle Tony Geoghegan CEQ, Merchants Quay Ireland Coming to a mail slot near you: (continued from front page) here I couldn't turn on a computer Me Ma and me Da,they even say they are proud of me now." His next step is Merchants great structure in my day Quay's drug-free rehabilitation Stabilisation helped me move on programme at High Park There's from where I was." a waiting Ust, but he rings every For Liam, stabilisation meant please ring us on 01 524 0160 children, those with and without computer.But before I started marked a turning point "It put a We'll update you on the progress, and if you'd like a tour of EDS homeless people -the young, Young and Innocent Merchants Quay programme out to men, women and Friday "I want to learn stuff I left Double Your Donation No Extra Cost to You! Now through 31 December, your generosity doubles - and does double the good - every time you give to Merchants Quay Ireland: ' A long-time supporter is i generously offering a €50,000 j getting referred through MQI to a behind because when you are on Challenge Grant over the holiday | safe,temporary accommodation drugs for so long, Uke you are Eventually finding a permanent blind to a lot of stuff as well," he place to caU home Training says, then softly adds, "I wouldn't season Every euro you give this Christmas will automatically double, starting now through i ; : courses in art, literacy, maths, and be here now if it wasn't for 31 December, up to €50,000 at no extra cost to you | j computers "I bought a little Merchants Quay I'm very grateful netbook it's only a small for people who have helped out." In ■K y Homeless and Drugs Services Merchants Quay Ireland Located at: P.Q Box 11958 28 Winetavern! Dublin Dublin Please watch your post for more j details or give, and double your kindness, today Thank you! : ; Head Office: 01 524 0160 et Fundraising: 01 524 0115 Volunteering: 01 524 0128 www.mqi.ie 166 Appendix Gratitude This is my favorite part; thanking people I count hundreds of people as mentors:some older;some now dead; many, more all the time, younger Some said things to me that changed everything (Richard R., Guy M.) Some took me inside their work(Sean T., Steve T and Mary A.) Some ran workshops that left myjaw dropped and my presumptions in smoking tatters(Mark R).Some wrote revealing, essential books(Mai W., Jerry P., Kay G., too many to count): a special thank you, authors At the front ofthat very long mentor line is someone who did all ofthe above: my best friend-wife-colleague-indescribable, Simone J Simone and I talk about fundraising constantly, daily, nightly, on vacation We love our life together in the charity world: there are so many different wonderful,stunning missions and methods and mad excess And more all the time Which is fabulous Greed has had its day Solving problems collectively is the future This book would not exist without wisdom, advice, research and examples from, among others: Achieve Hartford!, Karen Affeld, Agents of Good,AIGA,Carolyn Appleton, Dr Dan Ariely, Kent Ashworth, Bob Ball, Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, Jeff Brooks, Ken Burnett, Prof Josiah Carberry, Dale Carnegie,Dana-Farber,Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital,Drug Policy Alliance, William of Durham (d 1249), Rudolf Flesch, Food for the Poor,Genesis HealthCare,Gillette Children's Specialty Health care, Jonathon Grapsas, GrowSmartRI, Hampton Roads Commu nity Foundation,Houston Grand Opera,Jerry Huntsinger,Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Kerri Karvetski, John Lepp, Jen Love, Manchester Area Conference of Churches, Kivi Leroux Miller, Mark Phillips and the Bluefrog team, the late lamented print Newsweek, Nashville Rescue Mission, Operation Homefront, Richard Radcliffe, Adrian Sargeant, Lisa Sargent, Save the Children, Jen Shang, Sister Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, David Solie, SPANA,Christiana Stergiou, Clovis Thorn,Sean Triner,UNICEF New Zealand,Siegfried Vogele, and Colin Wheildon Gratitude About the Author Tom Ahern could walk into any bar in the fundraising world and someone would buy him a drink He is considered one ofthe world s top authorities on how to make donor communications more profitable He specializes in applying the discoveries of psychology and neuroscience to the day-to-day business of inspiring and retaining donors He is the author of four previous books on donor communica tions, all well received Each year, he delivers dozens of workshops and webinars Outside North America, he's spoken at the IFC in the Netherlands; several times in Australia and New Zealand; in Belgium, Italy, and Slovakia His recent clients for cases, direct mail, newsletters and training include Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Catholic Relief Services, Houston Grand Opera,the Museum ofFlight(Seattle), National Parks Conservation Association, Princeton University, Save the Children, Sharp Healthcare and other major hospital systems United Way of Anchorage, University of Chicago, Volunteers of America; as well as many smaller and local nonprofits He collaborates with Prof Adrian Sargeant and psychologist Jen Shang on prototyping innovative direct mail packages for PBS TV Tom Ahern has been an award-winning journalist, for articles on health and social justice As a "message strategist," he's won three prestigious international lABC Gold Quill awards, all for nonprofit communications campaigns that achieved unusual success He graduated from Brown University with a BA and MA in English He completed his Certificate of Advertising Art from the Rhode Island School of Design His offices are in Rhode Island and France Emerson ' &L Church PUBLISHERS 15 Brook Street • Medfield, MA 02052 Tel 508-359-0019• Fax 508-359-2703 www.emersonandchurch.com _ Fundraising/Marketing/Communications Some charities that have followed this advice have improved income by 1,000 percent!" FROM THE FOREWORD BY ROGER GRAVER Making Money with Donor Newsletters will help you transform your current newsletter into a money machine - some charities that have followed this advice have improved block in donor communications income by 1,000 percent! More importantly it will guide you Newsletters is not a theoretical work in transforming your organization from a ho-hum 'corporate-focused' entity into a distinctive and thriving 'donor- ■ I know he has brilliantly lifted the lowly donor newsletter to its rightful- yes, exalted - place as the essential building focused' powerhouse Tom Ahern combines writing that is both fine and fun with insight and great wit His is that rare practical experience that comes from decades as one of America's great fundraising communications experts It is Tom's deep and timeless experience, his wit and wisdom that make his insights and advice in this book so valuable More than anyone Making Money with Donor Every chapter is jam-packed with 'how to' illustrations and guidance You'll discover that none of the skills required is difficult to master If you can write a letter to your mother or your kid at camp you have within you the wherewithal to write a dynamite newsletter Let others cast out and about for the next "new, new thing" that glows in the dark and hypes its promises of a fundraising revolution You're about to be treated to a remarkable rediscovery of an "old, old thing" that not only raises more money, but also builds more lasting donor loyalty and retention 90000 Emerson & Church PUBLISHERS www.emersonandchurch.com 78188S 02504 D ... brilliantly lifted the lowly donor newsletter to its rightful—yes, exalted—place as the essential building block in donor communications Making Money with Donor Newsletters is not a theoretical... Data Ahern, Tom Making money with donor newsletters : the how-to guide to extraordinary results / Tom Ahern pages cm ISBN 978-1-889102-50-4 (pbk.: alk paper) Direct-mail fund raising Newsletters Design... tested approaches outlined and you'll be amply rewarded .Making Money with Donor Newsletters will help you transform your current newsletter into a money machine —some charities that have followed this